Netizens applaud high application rate for bus driver job, highlighting willingness of Singaporeans to take up labour if pay is right

A local bus company's recent salary offer of up to S$5,000 for bus drivers has generated significant interest, attracting over 1,400 applicants so far, nearly half of whom are Singaporeans or Permanent Residents.

This high application rate has sparked discussions among netizens, who see it as evidence that Singaporeans are willing to take up labor-intensive jobs if the pay is right.

Westpoint Transit, a private bus company, announced its recruitment drive in December last year, offering a minimum of S$3,500 for drivers of its medium-sized buses and up to $5,000 for those driving the 45-seater charter buses.

To sweeten the deal, the company also offered a joining bonus of S$7,500 or S$10,000, depending on the bus size, with the condition that drivers stay with the company for at least three years.

According to Shin Min Daily News on Saturday (27 July), all 30 of the successful applicants so far are Singaporean, including five university graduates.

Among them is Aeneas Liow, a 28-year-old Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) graduate, who joined the company in February.

Despite holding a degree in air transport management, Liow chose to pursue his passion for buses and driving, a decision supported by his father but met with concern from his mother due to the job's demanding hours.

Liow, the youngest employee at Westpoint, expressed his long-term ambition to set up his own bus company.

"My father supports my choice of vocation, but my mum thinks the job is tough with long hours. But I feel this is ultimately my decision to make, every job is tough in some way," he told Shin Min.

Westpoint's director, Lionel Lee, revealed that the company has received 1,478 applications, with 45 percent being Singaporeans or permanent residents.

Another 45 percent of applicants are from Malaysia, while the remaining 10 percent come from China, India, Myanmar, and other nationalities.

Lee emphasized that while educational qualifications are notable, the company prioritizes technical skills in its hiring process.

In previous interviews, Lee, a second-generation leader at Westpoint, highlighted the attractive offer and bonus as strategies to address the manpower crunch and change the public perception of bus driving as a low-paying and labour-intensive job.

He emphasized the importance of hiring locally, noting that many local applicants, including former white-collar workers, were drawn to the revised pay structure and the opportunity to pursue their passion.

Netizens have responded positively to this development, with many taking to Reddit to express their views.

One user wrote, "Useful success case study for other businesses struggling to find workers." Another added, "The lesson is: pay people a decent salary and you will get applicants."

Another comment emphasized the simple economics of the labor market: "Offer below market price and you won’t have many options. Offer higher and you can get all the talents you need." The commenter criticized companies that expect high-quality workers for low wages, comparing it to consumers wanting cheap chicken rice while blaming hawkers for not being "hungry" enough.

Many netizens echoed the sentiment that Singaporeans are eager for jobs but are deterred by low salaries rather than social stigma.

One wrote, "Singaporeans ARE hungry for jobs. The reason they don't take the job is NOT social stigma...it's the lowball salary." Another added, "Every business owner knows this theory very well. But every business owner wants to reap the most profit."

Some pointed to examples from other countries, such as Australia, where well-paying jobs attract a diverse workforce, including white-collar workers.

Others highlighted the importance of not opening the floodgates to foreign labor, which could suppress local wages.

The move by Westpoint Transit was also seen as a step towards changing outdated perceptions of blue-collar work.

One netizen commented, "The whole stigma that blue-collared work is less 'skilled' is flawed and outdated and that this move is a step in the right direction for people to pursue what they enjoy without worrying about being able to survive.